Journal of School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research

Profile of Cosmetic Surgery in Iran: A Descriptive Study

Haniye Sadat Sajadi

Background and Aim: Considering the growing trend of cosmetic surgery it is essential to adapt a different approach to provide the relevant services in response to the community needs. In this study we aimed to assess the current state of cosmetic surgery services in Iran in terms of frequency distribution according to the type of surgery and other features.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study using the information in the Statistics and Information Technology Management Center (SITMC) of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The data in the SITMC medical records of the information system of the reference hospitals for cosmetic surgery, including admission type, status at the time of discharge, average cost, average length of stay, type of center (ownership) and demographic characteristics of the patients undergoing cosmetic surgery were extracted between January 2017 and June 2021. Data analysis was done using Excel software and descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean).
Results: During the study period a total of 62,387 surgeries had been performed for 56 cosmetic surgery codes. The majority of cosmetic surgery centers (79.7%) were governmental. The demands for cosmetic surgery by different groups were as follows: women 73.9%, Iranian nationals 97.7%, married individuals 40.6%, and the aged individuals 16-45 years 82.7%. Rhinoplasty accounted for approximately 60% of the cosmetic surgeries, while septorhinoplasty and lower eyelid blepharoplasty had the highest and lowest average costs and lengths of stay, respectively.
Conclusion: Considering the average cost of surgical operations, financing arrangements and the framework of providing the relevant services should be specified with more precision and transparency. In addition, prior to making decisions in this area policies should be checked in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and cultural compatibility.

Evaluation of the Integrated and Comprehensive Geriatric Care Program in Health Care Centers Based on the CIPP (Context, Input, Process, Product) Model: A Case Study in Qom Province, Iran

Zahra Taheri-Kharameh

Background and Aim: The Integrated and Comprehensive Geriatric Care Program (ICGCP) of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), Iran was designed about a decade ago and is being implemented to maintain and improve the health of the elderly. The program has not been evaluated so far. A comprehensive evaluation of this program is deemed necessary to determine whether this program requires revision or process improvement. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the ICGCP of MOHME using the Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) model in Qom province.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study included the entire personnel of the health centers in Qom province as the statistical population. The data collection tool was a two-section questionnaire containing items on demographic information and a researcher-made evaluation questionnaire of the current elderly care program based on the four areas of the CIPP evaluation model. Participants meeting the study's inclusion criteria were enrolled through census sampling. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 24.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.92 ± 6.98 years, 140 (84.3%) being females. Data analysis showed the following results as Mean ± SD: (1). A regards the context, for the items "Target group's need for the program" and "Identification of the potential of other influential organizations in program implementation": 3.71 ± 1.01 and 2.21 ± 0.99, respectively. (2). As regards input, for the items "Identification of program audiences" and "Necessary budget and funding for the program": 3.70 ± 0.95 and 2.23 ± 0.95, respectively. (3). As regards process, for the items "Program evaluation by officials and executing personnel," and "Recording and tracking issues during the program”: 3.16 ± 0.90 and 2.69 ± 0.85, respectively. (4). As regards product, for the items "Satisfaction with work, commitment and work ethic" and "Conducting case studies in this area": 3.65 ± 0.81 and 2.64 ± 1.01, respectively. In the overall program evaluation, the mean scores for "Program necessity" and "Program delivery quality" were 2.88 ± 0.89 and 2.12 ± 0.80, respectively.
Conclusion: The evaluation of the ICGCP of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education using the CIPP model identified the strengths and weaknesses of this program based on the opinions of health center personnel in Qom province. Policymakers and other relevant authorities can use these findings to enhance the program further.

The Relationship Between Food Literacy Components and Healthy Eating Habits in the Adult Population of Shiraz City, Iran

Background and Aim: Healthy eating habits are undeniably one of the most crucial determinants of people's health in today's world. Undoubtedly food literacy and its components are key variables influencing food habits. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between food knowledge, food skills, resilience and healthy eating habits in the adult population of Shiraz City, Iran.
Materials and Method: A sample of 384 adults in Shiraz City was selected by cluster sampling and completed a questionnaire in 2023. Food literacy included 3 components, namely, knowledge, skill and resilience, determined using a standard 14-item questionnaire. The scale used to measure healthy eating habits included 6 items. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27 software.
Results: The majority of the sample demonstrated average levels of food knowledge, food skills, resilience and healthy eating habits. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between age and healthy eating habits, while individuals with university education exhibited significantly healthier eating habits compared to illiterate individuals. Furthermore, it was found that food knowledge and resilience had the most significant effect on healthy eating habits, respectively.
Conclusion: The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the components of food literacy and healthy eating habits in the adult population of Shiraz City, Iran. Food knowledge and resilience had significant effects on healthy eating habits. In general, it can be concluded that the implementation of targeted training courses with a special emphasis on improving food knowledge and skills should be prioritized by relevant authorities. Promoting food literacy has the potential to promote healthy eating habits and ultimately elevate the overall level of community health.

Diagnosis of Diabetes Using Machine Learning and Evolutionary Algorithms

Mohammad Jafar Tarokh

Background and Aim: In recent years, machine learning and evolutionary algorithms have drawn the attention of researchers and specialists in various fields, especially in healthcare, due to their practical applications in processing large datasets to provide valuable insights. Considering the increasing prevalence of diabetes and its rapid and accurate diagnosis being one of the most critical issues in medicine, significant concerns are faced by global communities worldwide. The present study was conducted with the aim of creating a diagnostic model based on evolutionary algorithms and machine learning to diagnose diabetes.
Materials and Methods: This research based on the Indian Pima diabetes dataset presents a framework based on intelligent diabetes diagnosis. The proposed method consists of two main stages. The first stage involves a classification approach using K-nearest neighbors and random forest algorithms. The second stage includes a combined feature selection and classification approach to enhance the results of the first stage, utilizing grey wolf optimization, whale optimization, and particle swarm optimization algorithms for feature selection. Comparative analysis among different approaches is conducted through evaluation metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score.
Results: After comparative comparisons among the proposed models, the random forest model based on the grey wolf optimization was selected and introduced as the final model with a prediction accuracy of 81.38%.
Conclusion: The findings of this research indicate that the use of evolutionary algorithms alongside machine learning models can often enhance the efficiency and accuracy of diabetes diagnosis and its associated complications.

Sociological Explanation of the Relationship Between Cultural Intelligence and Social Health Among the Citizens of Yasouj City, Iran

Seyed Samad Beheshti

Background and Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether cultural intelligence, a construct measure of individuals' capacity to adjust to new surroundings and different cultures, has an effect on their social functioning and effective communication with others, ultimately influencing their overall social health.
Materials and Methods: This research was a quantitative survey conducted on a sample of 380 individuals aged 15 years and above selected by multi-stage sampling in Yasouj city, Iran using a questionnaire.
Results: Data analysis showed that the research population possessed higher levels of cultural intelligence and social health compared to the average levels, there being no difference between men and women. Married individuals were found to have higher averages of cultural intelligence and social health compared to single individuals. While there was no correlation between age and social health, there was a positive correlation between age and cultural intelligence.
Testing the hypotheses revealed that various dimensions of cultural intelligence had direct and positive associations with social health. Cultural intelligence with a standard regression coefficient of 0.372 accounted for approximately 14% of the changes in social health; age did not have an intervening effect on the relationship between these two variables.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings of this study indicate that individuals with higher levels of cultural intelligence possess a greater ability to understand and accept other individuals’ perspectives, this leading ultimately to enhanced societal engagement and interpersonal interactions. Consequently, this heightened cultural intelligence positively impacts their overall social health.

Increasing Life Expectancy in Iran due to the Role of Financial Development, Health Expenditure and Renewable Energy Consumption

Background and Aim: In recent years the interrelationships among environment, energy and health have attracted increasing attention due to their significant impact on human health. This study aimed to investigate the complex interactions among environment, economy, development, energy and the health outcomes in Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this research the annual national data in Iran between 1981 and 2021 were used, using the fully modified least squares cointegration. The following variables affecting life expectancy at birth were included in the analysis: renewable energy consumption, health costs, air pollution, female literacy rate, inflation rate, Gini coefficient, GDP per capita, financial development and fossil fuel consumption.
Results: Data analysis showed the following: 1. financial development positively affects life expectancy with a coefficient of 0.037 ; 2. CO2 emissions and fossil fuel consumption decrease life expectancy by 0.015 and 1.02, respectively; 3. Renewable energy consumption and health expenses have improved life expectancy in Iran with positive coefficients of 0.025 and 0.035, respectively.
Conclusion: To improve health care outcomes action should be taken in the following areas: increasing health expenditures, increasing the use of renewable energy, reducing the use of fossil fuels, strengthening long-term financial development for easier access to medical treatments, decreasing disease risk, healthier lifestyles, and environmental quality improvement. In addition, as regards policy-making, planning to improve economic indicators can provide the basis for demand for healthy and educational goods and improve the health status of the society.

Community Health Assessment for Identification and Prioritization of Issues in the Area Under Coverage of Imamzadeh Ghasem Health Center, Tehran City, Iran

Mohammad Hossein Panahi

Background and Aim: This study aimed to assess and prioritize the health needs of a community served by the Imamzadeh Ghasem Health Center in Tehran city, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted based on the North Carolina model for comprehensive community health assessment. General information and available facilities were extracted from secondary sources, while insights into specific community needs were gathered through interviews with 76 individuals representing diverse demographics. The assessment was made by secondary data analysis and direct interviews.
Finally, the prioritization of health needs of the community was based on a scoring system based on severity, extent, and ease of being solved.
Results: The findings revealed that sewage problems, construction issues and waste management were considered to be the primary health concerns in the region. Comparative analysis with the situation in other regions in Iran emphasizes the unique challenges faced by the community in the present study.
Conclusion: The prioritized health issues highlight the community's urgent needs, requiring targeted interventions. Proposed solutions include legal measures, public education and municipal interventions to address the sewage, construction and waste management problems.

Living in the Rural Areas and Access to Health Services; Qualitative study of the Rural People in the Fullard County

Ahmad Kalateh Sadati

Background and Purpose: The development of the rural areas relies heavily on addressing health issues and ensuring access to healthcare for the villagers. The primary objective of this research is to explore the perceptions and experiences related to access to health services among the residents of the Falard county in Lordegan, Iran.
Material and Methods: This study employed a qualitative research method utilizing grounded theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, achieving saturation with a sample of 20 participants. The manuscript data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding methods, ultimately leading to the development of a grounded theory.
Results: The findings showed that the understanding and experience of the villagers is based on the change in the pattern of diseases and the need for specialized and super-specialized services, and in this context, a kind of comparison is made with the urban dwellers. The participants face obstacles to receive the mentioned services, while the actions of the rural health house centers are not up to their expectations. The three main categories which explored are: incomplete access and coverage, feelings of inequality, and marginalization. The central theme of this research is encapsulated in the concept of an intensified perception of inequality in access to health services.
Conclusion: The development of rural villages relies heavily on addressing health issues and ensuring access to related services. Despite the significant efforts made by governments over the past four decades to improve rural health, access to these services remains a critical concern. The changing patterns of diseases, the aging population of villagers, and the growing sense of relative deprivation and inequality in accessing health services are the most pressing challenges that health policymakers must prioritize.